Early the next morning—
While Yugito was still at home, limping around and complaining about his sore legs, Aoba had already left Konoha with Sakura and Ino and arrived in the Land of Hot Water.
Over the past few years, Sakura and Ino had already gotten tired of strolling around Konoha with Aoba. At the same time, it was also to avoid overlapping with Yakumo and Tenten's date spot.
After some thought, they chose to leave Konoha and come to the Land of Hot Water.
And the reason they came here was still because of the kimono Aoba had given them.
Kimono seemed to be something that women in the ninja world placed great importance on.
Whether it was Ino's mom or Sakura's mom, just by touching it they could tell where the kimono came from.
Because of that, the two of them were certain that Aoba had definitely been to the Land of Hot Water.
So they set the date location in the Land of Hot Water.
Both of them were wearing the kimono Aoba had bought back then, and he himself was the same.
At the same time, with the New Year approaching, and since the Land of Hot Water was a country entirely focused on tourism, the shops along the streets had already started preparing in advance for the New Year fireworks festival.
It was still morning, yet Aoba had already seen many girls wearing yukata wandering around the streets.
However, the three of them had instead become the center of the street.
Because kimono styles are very different from yukata, and coupled with their outstanding temperament and looks, plus the special combination of one man and two women, they naturally became the focus of attention.
Aoba did not care about this at all. He simply held the two girls' hands and wandered aimlessly through the streets, with the chaotic noise of the crowd filling his ears.
The clacking sound of wooden clogs kept ringing out, the delicate handbags at their wrists swayed back and forth, and cheerful conversations intertwined together.
It made Aoba feel a bit absent-minded, until the girl's voice reached his ears and he suddenly snapped back to his senses.
"Feels like the Land of Hot Water isn't that special after all."
Ino looked at the various street vendors by the roadside. Aside from the fact that the people coming and going were all wearing yukata, there really was not much difference compared to Konoha.
"That's because Konoha has developed very rapidly over the past year and attracted many merchants and vendors from all over the ninja world. Quite a few of them also come from the Land of Hot Water. Most of what's here, Konoha also has."
After coming back to his senses, Aoba explained.
"Huh? Then didn't we come for nothing?", Sakura looked a little disappointed.
Aoba squeezed her soft, boneless little hand and comforted her, "Not really. The Land of Hot Water is actually most famous for its hot springs. That's something no other place can compare to."
"Then how about we go soak in the hot springs right away?"
Ino said with a slightly red face, "I heard that many hot springs in the Land of Hot Water allow mixed bathing for men and women…"
Aoba looked at her in surprise.
"Couples bathing together is pretty normal, right? And for mixed bathing, you still have to wear swimsuits," Ino added shyly.
"That's indeed very normal."
Aoba could not help but smile, "What do you think, Sakura?"
"I'm fine with it too."
Sakura nodded shyly as well.
Aoba felt that Ino's earlier complaint seemed to be just to lead into the idea of going to soak in the hot springs.
But he did not think too much about it. After asking a few locals by the roadside for their opinions, they chose a relatively large hot spring inn that was popular with local residents and also allowed mixed bathing.
They also chose an open-air large pool. The water was natural hot spring water, and around the pool were potted plants, antique-style lamps, and several artificial rock formations.
In fact, there were quite a few people who chose to soak in hot springs in the morning. At this time of day, many people had already checked in and were preparing to enjoy the hot springs.
However, under the influence of Aoba's genjutsu, the huge, spacious hot spring pool only had the three of them.
Even the hot spring water itself had been altered once by him using his ocular techniques.
The three of them changed into swimsuits and entered the hot spring pool. They could clearly feel that the water temperature was a bit hot. This was natural hot spring water, unlike the artificial hot springs in Konoha where the temperature was easy to control.
But soaking their entire bodies in the hot, steamy spring water was indeed very comfortable.
"Phew! Warm and cozy. Feels like it's a bit better than Konoha's."
Sakura narrowed her eyes. Her whole body relaxed comfortably, her hair tied up. With her lazy, languid posture, she looked like she was about to fall asleep.
However, her half-closed eyes kept glancing toward the side.
"Feels like if we come back again after some time, when the weather gets a bit cooler, it'll be even better. What do you think?"
Ino suggested. Unlike her usual side bangs and single ponytail, her malt-yellow long hair fell naturally over her shoulders. Paired with her delicate face and slightly flushed cheeks, she looked like a blooming cosmos flower in the hot spring pool.
Yet her gaze also kept shifting toward a certain direction from time to time.
"Sure. It'll definitely be even more comfortable then."
Sakura nodded happily in agreement.
Then the two of them looked together at Aoba, who was sitting in the middle.
Now they could look openly.
From the moment he entered the hot spring pool, their eyes had never really left him.
They just wanted to maintain a bit of modesty, so they had been sneaking glances from the corners of their eyes.
But Inner Sakura, who had already left her body, had no such concerns at all. From just now, she had been floating around Aoba nonstop.
It could be said she was inspecting him from all angles, without a single blind spot.
Sakura was certain that if Inner Sakura were not a soul, she would have been drooling already.
This made her feel fiercely jealous.
Mainly because Aoba's face alone was already at a top-tier level that could let him debut directly as a star.
Now, with only a pair of swim trunks on, he was showing off a body that could be called perfect.
Under the miraculous effects of the Yin Seal, the muscles on his body were even more sharply defined, and his skin was smooth and fair.
It was just that he usually wore clothes, so most of this inner charm was covered up, making it hard to notice.
Even Sakura and Ino, as his girlfriends, did not really get to see it in daily life.
Now that there was a chance, of course they had to feast their eyes.
Aoba had long noticed the two girls' obvious and subtle gazes, as well as Inner Sakura floating around in the air.
Aside from feeling helpless, there was really nothing else to think about.
If they wanted to look, they could just look openly.
As for his girlfriends being obsessed with his body, it only made Aoba feel happy.
"Of course there's no problem. If you want to come, just come find me directly. By then, we can also bring Hinata and the others along to have a look."
"That's great!"
The two girls smiled happily and, at the same time, kissed him on each side of his face.
It was just that their little hands were not very well-behaved.
Then they went back to chatting among themselves, still sneaking glances as usual.
"…"
Aoba was speechless. Then he also started pretending to look around, and in the end his gaze landed on the two girls.
After all, Ino and Sakura were his girlfriends. Coming to soak in hot springs with his girlfriends, and even mixed bathing, could he really just sit there doing nothing?
His gaze shifted slightly downward, landing on the pair soaking in the hot spring, fair with a hint of red, snow-like treats.
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